Rescue Express travels to Houston to help animals effected by hurricane

by NBC 16

Jannett Martinez holds her cat Gigi as she rides a boat out of her neighborhood which was inundated after water was released from nearby Addicks Reservoir when it reached capacity due to Tropical Storm Harvey on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

EUGENE, Ore. - A Eugene based non-profit is using their resources to help those who are battling high water in Houston.

Along with the thousands of humans displaced by Hurricane Harvey, animals have lost their homes as well. Shelters that were once a safe haven for cats and dogs are now under water.

In the wake of the tragedy, a non-profit based in Eugene traveled more than two days to assist in the only way they knew how.

Rescue Express, an animal transportation service in Eugene, is used to saving pets from their last visit to the vet.

"Some of us have even chosen to not have children, because there are so many animals that need us," said Tuesday Scott of Rescue Express.

Every weekend, the non-profit transports upwards of 200 pets from over-populated shelters in California, to desirable adoption clinics in the Northwest.

Scott says that often times, the pets that they rescue from California are very close to euthanasia.

"It's wonderful to get those pets in your arms and know they are safe," said Scott. "It's not their fault that they are here, we owe it to them. They are at our mercy and they need us."

Although Rescue Express helps animals solely from California, for the first time in company history they drove more than two days to Texas.

"It's something that we do without thinking because it's necessary - it's needed and we are capable of it, so therefore we should do it," said Scott.

Using a van, just like the one used in Eugene, the non-profit is currently transporting hundreds of animals and returning them to their families or taking the pets yet to be adopted to other clinics across the country.

FEMA has said they will be there for years assisting in the recovery of Houston. Rescue Express says they'll stay until all animals are above water.

The non-profit operates solely off of donation. To donate, you can visit their website at www.rescueexpress.org.